The Science of Refraction

Refraction is the bending of light (or other waves) as it passes from one transparent substance into another. It occurs due to the change in speed of the wave when it enters a different medium, causing it to change direction.

Refraction plays a key role in the formation of rainbows. When sunlight passes through raindrops in the atmosphere, the light waves refract, reflect, and then refract again, separating the different colors of light and creating the colorful arc shape that we see.

Practical applications of refraction include the use of lenses in eyeglasses and cameras to correct vision and magnify objects, the use of prisms in optical devices to disperse light and create spectra, and the use of refraction in fiber optics for efficient transmission of data through optical cables.

<p>Refraction is the bending of light (and other waves) as it passes from one transparent substance into another. It occurs due to the change in speed and direction of the waves when they enter a different medium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Refraction has various applications in everyday life. It allows for the creation of lenses, magnifying glasses, prisms, and rainbows. It is also used in optical instruments like microscopes and telescopes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Examples of transparent substances that can cause refraction include air, water, glass, and certain types of plastics.</p> Signup and view all the answers